Road trip in the "not a Prime!"

I wasn't looking at the dash to tell me to brake. I don't know if it even came on. Didn't hear a beep anyway. Did feel the antilock function through the brake pedal, though. And I'm super glad the driver behind us wasn't texting or some other stupid stuff.

On another note, we took a 125 mile round trip drive today up to Findlay and Carey. C\The car performed well in spite of heavy cross winds and head winds. Ended up with about 52 mpg indicated thanks to a little city driving in the mix. Otherwise, it would have been more like 45 or so with 70 mph roads and 15 mph winds. We got to see friends that go back 40 years. Still dear friends even though we see each other so rarely these days.

 

Amen to that! For sure it's impossible to stay on top of things 100% of the time on long drives. Same could be said for short drives, too, I suppose. I felt and we both heard the buzz from the antilock brake system. What a great technology!! Saved that guy from a big ticket and us (along with hundreds of others) from a lengthy delay. Coming from many years of motorcycle riding, I try to constantly be aware that at least 50% of the drivers have IQs of under 100 and the rest are deliberately out to get me.

 

There are some signs that God has given me that gift in the biblical sense of declaring truth from scripture, but not in the popular but incorrect sense of predicting the future. It's a little scary sometimes when I think about it.

I spoke in two churches this morning, in fact.

 

Thought I ought to share some pictures. We picked a great time to come up here.

Soybean harvest is on!





Leaves are changing.


Corn is almost ready.







Lots of flowers till going strong.

 

And the reported gas mileage for the first four days of our trip. Tomorrow, we plan to add at least another 150 miles.

 

Thanks. Actually, I didn't even bring the Nikon this trip. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is that good. Only thing I miss is the long zoom lens and that's not very often.

 

I enjoy that, too. But it can sure get time consuming. In fact, it's why I jumped from Linux to a Mac. I have a boatload of videos stashed on Vimeo from our years in Honduras.

 

Yeah, well, they don't know how to drive. Actually, we did only get about 50 on the highway yesterday. At 70 mph with 15 mph crossing headwinds.

Today, after church, we got over 60 mpg indicated coming back to the farm. It was about 85% highway at 50-60 mph. The rest was city at 25-35 mph.

 

Went back to FIndlay yesterday. It's 75 miles NW of here. Wind was from the south at 15-25 mph going & coming. Also, iirc, Findlay is about 300 feet lower than the farm here near Galion. Pretty good mileage going up there. Not so good coming back. Yesterday's driving also included a trip to town so that helped with the daily average. We've averaged well over 50 mpg indicated eveyr day of this trip so far.



And here it is this morning ready for another expedition. And finally ready for gas, too after over 500 miles on this tank.

 

Thanks. You're very kind. I left the Nikon at home for this trip. They are all taken with an iPhone 11 Pro Max. Most are cropped and slightly color adjusted in the computer to get the look I saw in my mind's eye when I took the shot.

We set the cruise control at the speed limit or 1-2 mph above. So, mostly 70-72 mph. There were some 65 and slower zones, but not much.

Interestingly, the car seemed to get a little bit better mileage in the big hills of TN and KY than it did on the flats. And no engine braking even on the biggest hills although the battery did go to full bars once or twice.

BTW, I just filled the tank this morning. Here's the trip tally so far.


Oh! A side note that I forgot to tell you about. Prii are almost as rare here as Primes are in Tampa. As we were approaching Columbus from the south Thursday night on our way up here, a 4th Gen Prius went by and tooted his horn and waved. I've had that happen in Tampa in my Prime from another Prime, but never in any other Prius because they are as thick as fleas in Tampa. I think I've seen maybe five Prii since we got up here. Back home, it wasn't uncommon to see five while waiting at a traffic light.